Survive and advance. I was talking with a good friend Thursday when we got to talking about March Madness.

I commented that life is a lot like the Big Dance — survive and advance. No, you don’t die when you’re knocked out off the dance floor, or your life is over.

It could mean that on any particular day, you either survived and advanced, or you didn’t. There’s always tomorrow, a new day, and for us in the world of journalism, a blank page or a clean slate.

Not to be gloom and doom, or as another friend posted on Facebook, “I got mood poisoning — must have been something I hate” — so let’s talk about March Madness, from a local standpoint.

Arkansas Tech University has had one or two basketball teams in the NCAA Division II Tournaments 13 times dating back to 1998. And, ATU Sports Information Director Paul Smith pointed out that the Wonder Boys are one of just seven teams to make the tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

I’ve gone on and on in the past about how it’s a crying shame John E. Tucker Coliseum isn’t filled every time the Golden Suns and Wonder Boys play at home. So add the above facts to the list — which I will continue to write and shout from the top of the dome, until more fans find their way to Arkansas Tech basketball games.

If nothing else, supporting the Suns and Wonder Boys makes you a part of history. I’ve talked about their win-loss records, and their incredible records inside Tucker Coliseum. But one or both teams reaching the NCAA Tournament 13 times out of the last 16 seasons?

According to Smith, this is the first time in more than 50 years the Wonder Boys have enjoyed such a run in the national basketball spotlight. ATU’s five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths is the longest streak in national tournament play for the Wonder Boys since they qualified for the NAIA National Tournament seven consecutive times from 1950-56.

Now, this weekend they’re in the Central Regional — and hey, can we try to get in a region that doesn’t stretch from almost Mexico to nearly Canada? — and face Minnesota State-Mankato. Their women’s team won the D-II national title in 2009, while the men’s team got to the final four in 2011.

They’re no slouches, by any means. But we all know, seeds don’t matter when you get on the bracket.

Anything can happen. It could even be warm on the campus of Minnesota State-Mankato — possibly in July.

These student-athletes have played hard nonconference schedules and been successful in their conference games to get ranked in regional polls to qualify for the NCAA D-II Tournament — not to mention played in or won regular-season and postseason conference championships.

Everybody can be a part of March Madness by either heading up to Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., or listen on the radio (KWKK 100.9 FM) or online (athletics.atu.edu).

For the seniors, this could be their last games. The juniors, sophomores and rest of the reserves who will be challenged to continue the winning traditions next season aren’t going to Kansas and Minnesota with the intention of just enjoying their trips.

For these Golden Suns and Wonder Boys, it’s time to survive and advance. And they deserve your support, at home and in the NCAA D-II Tournament.